Civic improvements from 1939 and 1940

During the late 1930s and early 1940s, Town council faced a variety of tough issues. The slow economy faced during the Great Depression was accompanied by a high unemployment rate and poor business transactions. New consumer restrictions were coming into force as the tragic events of the Second World War began. Although the economy and the war were international events, they did have local implications.

Council composition

Our Town council during those tough times was made up of several very capable individuals. Pincher Creek’s mayor from 1938 to 1941 was Frank T. Edwards who in business circles adeptly served as the editor of our weekly newspaper, the Pincher Creek Echo. A family operated venture, Edwards and his wife Anna had kept the paper thriving in spite of the economic turmoil. The Echo was housed in a frame yet rustic two-storey building situated on the north side of Main Street. This eye-catching landmark nestled along the old creek bed had housed the paper during the four decades since its turn of the century establishment. Edwards was re-elected by acclamation during the municipal elections of February 1940.

Up to the election, council members had included F. B. Frey, John Buchan, a Mr. Johnson, and Richard W. Morgan, most of who were well connected local businessmen. Frey chose to stand for re-election in that contest of 1940 and he was joined by political newcomers John Gray and Fred Pelletier.

Following those municipal elections, the following council committees were appointed: Finance, which looked after the Town budget and mill rate; Town Properties; Public Works, which as we will see below was very active at that time; Police and Relief, which given the poor economic conditions of the time saw lots of local attention; water, fire and lights, which looked after our municipal utilities; and Town Improvement and Health, which appears to have been responsible for general Town beautification as well as the local Health Board. Various Council members were very active on these committees as the system allowed them to make their civic contributions and streamline the business of the Town.

Street and sidewalk improvements well appreciated

At the annual meeting of the Town of Pincher Creek, presented to local ratepayers in late January 1940, it was shown by council that in spite of the tough economic times, significant civic improvements had recently been made. Most noteworthy of these were alterations to many of the streets and sidewalks in the community. Those portions of Main Street that ran through the downtown business core were hard surfaced, and those sections of the main highway that ran through town were re-surfaced. Back in the late 1930s, it was the former Bridge Avenue that provided the north highway access into Pincher Creek. Motorists wishing to travel south of town on the highway would come and go via East Avenue. It was that one block of downtown Main Street that provided the commercial connection for the highway. During this era, local businesses dotting this portion of downtown included the Scott Block and the Municipal District of Robert Kerr on the south side with the City Café and the King Edward Hotel on the street’s north side.

Further work was completed in constructing cement sidewalks for those high traffic pedestrian areas. Following this annual meeting, the Town completed further sidewalk repairs on what were then known locally as the “East Avenue Hill” and the “Catholic Hill.” According to public reports, both sets of these walkways heading up on various points of the South Hill had badly deteriorated, and as these were high traffic routes, the Town paid particular attention to rectifying the situation. The high traffic resulted from St. Vincent’s Hospital, St. Michael’s Church and School and the large residential area being located on the South Hill.

Town council was complimented by community members attending this annual meeting for meeting these badly needed civic improvements while at the same time doing the work economically. The public advised the council to keep up these street and sidewalk repairs on an ongoing basis rather than let them accumulate overtime. The rationale was to prevent safety concerns from being ignored and to allow for long-term budget planning for such local projects.

Civic improvements were deemed a high priority during the 1939-40 council sessions.